Apparatus for breeding silkworms



V. FIORUZZI I APPARATUS FOR BREEDING SILK-VLORMS July 2s.,- 1931..

8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1926 2s, 1931. v. FIORUZZ. 1,816,368

APPARATUS For: BREEDING sILKwoRMs Filed 111111822, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1931. v. FloRuzzl 1,816,368

APARATUS FOR BREEDING SILKWORMS Filed June 22, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 28, 1931. v lloRUzzl 11,816,368

APPARATUS FOR BREEDING sILKwoRMs Filed June 22, 1 .926` 8 Sheets-Sheel't 4 July 28, 1931.

v. FloRuzzl 1,816,368

APPARATUS FOR BREEDING SIL'IIAKWORMS Filed June 22. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 5 I i JQ MMT, 7

July 28, 1931. v.1=;oRu-zz| 1,816,368

APPARATUS FOR BREEDING SILKWORMS Filed June 22, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 V. FIORUZZI rAPPARTUS FOR BREEDING SILKWORMS July 2s, 1931.

lmed June 22. 192e a sheets-'sheet 'l 43 2:1 l dz i0 v l [ggf 22.

July 28, 1931. v. FloRuzzl 1,816,363

v APPARATUS FOR BREEDING sILKwoRMs Filed June 22, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 changing of beds, bringing the silkworins to n Patentedduly 28,v 1931 "Para nr orries VITTORIO irieiwzzi, or Piacenza, ITALY l APPARATUS FOR BREEDING SILKWORMS Application ledJune 22, 1926, Serial No.

This invention relates to the art of breeding sillworms; and it relates more particuy larly to the art of handling silkworms from the 'time of their birth to the time they Yhave completelygspun their cocoons, with substantially complete elimination of the human intervention hitherto necessary at various stages in the development of the silkworms.

The invention comprises apparatus for breeding silkworms as Will be hereinafter disclosed.` lVhile the apparatus to be hereinafter Vdescribed is particularly useful in carrying out the purposes of the invention, li s use is notnecessarily restricted thereto.

The invention is characterized bythe fact that the breeding and removal of the Worms to new beds at the various stages of their development is automatically and continuously performed at predetermined points of time. rllhe worms first hatch, are then successively and mechanically` advanced .from one to another of a series of movable breeding devices (replacing the usual hurdlesor latticeworks) and finally-are allowed to' mount toa 'spinning hut device from the last ofthe movable breeding devices;r Theinvention also includes mechanical'. means for removing spun cocoons and as an importantv feature in- .cludes means for automatically feeding cut inulberry leaves to the breeding devices at 'n predetermined intervals `of time.

All of 'these steps are performed in such aV way that eachhatching of worms is segre-v gated from other hat-'chings and are performed without the use of any manual work in the distributing of cut mulberry leaves,

the spinning hut or collecting lspun cocoons,

all ofthese operations being mechanically' performed at predetermined times.

The apparatus` in its essentials comprises a Y plurality of lhorizontal conveyor means arranged end to end, `with bridging means associated with Vthe discharge and receiving ends of each conveyor except the first and last of 117,320, andn-*italy september' 1e, 1925.V

and are driven by any suitable` means at predes termined appropriate speeds which may be regulated at will. Devices for feeding cut inulberry leaves to the conveyor means are associated therewith. Aspinning hut device is 1 associated with the last ofthe conveyor means together with means for `removing spun .cocoons therefrom. y

As'an alternative the 'conveyor means may be in the form of hurdles or lattices inthe nature of reciprocating shelves, operatedin suchlmanner as to cause'sillrworms to progress along each shelf and eventually pass to another shelf adjacent thereto. R

In order to. afford afuller understanding of the invention, a. practical embodimentof the process, and ofapparatus that may desirably be employedin carrying it out will now be described in detail, it being understood, however, that-the description ofthese specific embodiments of the invention is Amerely illustrative and `is not restrictive.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate'A more or less diagrammatically a desirablerpractical form 0f apparatus tliatlmay be employed in carrying the invention into effect,

Fig. 1 shows, in plan, a device upon which s illworin eggs' are hatched,

Fig. 2is a side View of Figzl,

Figs. 3, l and 5 show, diagrammatically in plan, an apparatus for carrying the invention into effect, the apparatus, with bridging devices omittedfor-the sake of clearness,being shown in three parts, which are to be consid-` view of one of the rollers, which carry the conveyor means, fitted with a device for causing intermittent movement,

- Fig. 12 is a view of Fig. 11 taken at right angles thereto,

Figs. 13 and 14 show, on an enlarged scale, in side view and plan respectively, a device for intermittently passing silkwornis from 'one to another of the conveyor means,

Figs. 15 and 16 show, on an enlarged scale, in side view and plan respectively, an alternative form of conveyor means,

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 show in rear view, side view and plan respectively, an apparatus for automatically7 feedin(T cut mulberry leaves to the sill-:worms and for controlling movement of the conveyor means,

Fig. 20 shows diagrannnatically, on an enlarged scale, a detail in elevation of the -apparatus shown inFigs. 17, 1S and 19,

Figs. 21 and 22 show, on an enlarged scale, in side view and plan resigieetively, another detail of the mulberry leaf feeding means.

Figs. 23 and 24 show, on an enlarged scale, in side and end view respectively, the motor switch operating mechanism,

Figs. '25 and 26 are plan views of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24C, showing the parts in two different positions,

Fig. 27 is avertical section through the refuse receptacle and parts cooperating therewith, y

Fig. 28 is a section on the line 28-28 of Fi 27.

eferring to the drawings (Figs. 1 and 9.) C is an endless conveyor belt or cloth upon which silkworm eggs are placed, such belt being suitably driven at a predetermined rate which permits hatching of all the eggs,

Fig. 1. wrBelt C is carried by suitably actu` ated drums K. A number of paper strips, unrolling from roller E, are secured .to such belt prior to the `deposition of the eggs thereon. These strips are perforated at suitable points, so that portions may be torn oil'. As `shown on an enlarged scale in Figs.Y 9 and 10, the first belt'of Fig. 3 is provided with parallel steps or ridges extending longitudinally thereof. The sillrworm` eggs are deposited by any suitable means on the upper surface of belt at the endaway from which such upper surface moves. At this end of the belt the eggs, indicated by the `lark portion T, are deposited on the upper step A (Fig. 10) and as the belt travels in the direction of the arrow X and the worms develop, they spread out over the various steps A and finally occupy the region indicated by the dotted lines V. The sections of the perforated strips of paper D (Figs. 1

and 2) extend between the several Ysets of ridges A and support the hatched sillrworn'is thereby saving them from suti'ocation by cut mulberry leaves which are lying' on belt C. Eggs for hatching a new generation of worms are deposited at the receiving end of belt C at intervals depending upon the length and speed of the belt and the length of the paper strips occupied by the preceding generation of worms. The portion of the apparatus indicated by Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10 is by way of being an incubator, and, for purposes of accurate temperature regulation may be in a separate housing (not shown).

' In Figs. 3 to 8 the apparatus is shown schematically, there being, in the particular embodiment shown, fourteen other endless belts, connected by suitable bridging devices, rthe worms advancing along the belts in the course of their development. For example, the belts may be driven at such speed and constructed of such size that the first belt serves for the first and second periods of their (3 days), the second and third `belts for the third period (et days), the fourth to seventh .belts for the fourth period (5 days) and the eighth to thirteenth `belts for the fifth peried (i3 days). At the end of such time, the worms are ready to mount to spinning hat devices over the fourteenth ,and ifteenth belts, such spinning hut .devicesbeing designated L 5 and 8). At the end of the apparatus a combw-lilze'member M, adjacent ,9

the spinning hut device L, is pivotally mounted' vat .0, in such manner that, when is swung on pivot O, it gently detaches the cocoons vfrom spinning huts L of belt device L. driven ,that the direction in which its under surface travels is identical with the direction of travel of the upper'surfa-ee of the worm ionveying belts.Y

In Figs. 11 and 12 a device for controlling theintermittent travel of each belt is shown. In the particular embodiment, the ezrtcriorly toothed ratchet wheel Q is fitted on one end of the vdrums K carrying the endless belts,

lever S vis pivotally mounted at one of its The belt spinning hut device L is so ends on the shaft of drum K at K, and a.

pawl `ld is pivotally mounted at a suitable point intermediate of the length of said lever S. The' other end of lever S is pivotally as,- seciated with rod, 12V, suitably actuated as hereinafter described. It will be understood that ,when lcverS is swung on pivot ifi in a clockwise direction, the pawl R will engage a teeth of ratchet wheel Q, causing drum K to rotate in the same direction and therebyY advancing the belt .C a distance corresponding to the length of the arc bounded by the angular displacement of drum K. lt is to be understood that cach belt is actuated by mechanism such `as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12. i

A bridging device, referring to Figs. 13 and 1d, is arranged between each pair of endless conveyor belts, in order that the worms may pass from the discharge end of each drums carrying `the belt,` froinwhich Athe worms are to be removed,,areyarmsI-l. By applyingto armsH, a" force acting inthe direction of the arrow,sheet Fis moved in the opposite-direction untilitsforward edges encounter stop when the .inertia of the worms causes them to fall to lthe belt adjacent the stop G.V As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 14', the portion of'slieet F which normally lies on the'belt from which the worms are to be removed is of very light rmaterialand is provided with holes F.r Such holes progressive- `ly increase in diameter, to'permit the silkwormsas they increase iny size, to pass through such holes and so reach the upper surface of sheet F.

Beneath the adj acentends of yeach pair of belts C, table P is arranged to catch any worms that may accidentallyfall Afrom vthe belts. (See Figs. 6 and 17,) f lVhen, as hereinabove suggested, it is desirableto substitutehurdles or lattice like devices in the nature of swinging Vshelves'for the endless belts, such shelf-like ydevices 'B may be` employed in the manner shown in Figs. 15 and 16, wherein they are shown suspended c from shaft U by rod W. These shelf-,like structures are intermittently swung, by any suitable reciprocating mechanism as indicated byV the arrows X, the shelves-being first swung to the left and then to the right whereby theinertia of the worms `causes themK to travel `to theright and eventually to bedeposited .on an adjacent swinging shelf, it beingunderstood that'. a 'series' yof such' shelves are arranged m ahnement as y are belts fC' hereinabove described. V

@Apparatus shown in Figs. 17 tog22, for

feeding cut mulberry vleaves tothe beltsor shelves, willnowbe described. It comprises a rectangular framework or carriage y3 consistingA of suitable .uprights and crosspieces any may be arranged between two series of parallel .rows ofl beltsv ror shelves,l vertically arranged in tiers ina supporting :frame 1, Y1

as Vshown diagranfmcatically at 2 (and 2. Frame 3 acts as a carriage forthe leaffeed'- ing mechanism and is mounted on wheels 9 which travel on track 10. The` frame 'may also have top or lateralV guides. A smaller frame 4 is arranged inl cooperative relation with kframe 3 and travels vertically vby rollers 8 and 8 on guides or track fitted'to large y frame or carriage 3. Fram`e4 will vbe hereinafter referred to asthesmallframe;

I Small fra1ne4 is suspended from the top ofcarriage 3 by means of` pulleys 5 and 5 and ropes 6 and, so that it may be raised or lowered to serve belts2 on different levels of the tiers i l Two plates 1 3 and 13 are yieldingly connected to small frame 4 by resilient rods'14 and 14. VPlates13 and 13 may have the formv of right trapezfoids, with their acute angles farthest removed from the center of the leaf feeding mechanism. Cut mulberry leaves are deposited on thelupper surface of plates 13 and13 byendless belt' mechanism 11, 11, 12 c and-12.`y Plates 13 'and`13 are reciprocated by eccentrics`27 and 28. Leaves distributed onplates 13 and 13 by the-belts 12 and 12 are-first distributed onthesurface of such plates by their oscillatory movement and then are -scattered from their oblique edges `on belts or shelves 2, 2. Plates 13 and13 are i slightly inclined downwardly fromtheir receiving ends to their discharge ends. The lower ends of rods 14 a'nd- 14 are connected to horizontal cross-pieces l5 and 15 which .are connected bybrackets 16 andl to the small frame 4. 'c Y Belts 12 and 12 convey mulberry leaves from the apparatus shown in Figs. 21'and- 22, which comprises essentially aivertical channel 30, preferably of rectangular, cross section, which may be kfitted toca wall of the room containing the apparatus. The side of thischannel `facing frame or carriage 3 is provided with openings which are closed by doors 31 hinged .at 50 along their lower sides, so that the vdoors open inwardly andswing downwardly. c Suitable means such, for instance,as springsI (not shown) are provided closed` position.v yAt the upper end 'of chanrnel 30 Vis tube 32, through which mulberry vthereon by. side walls 551V Referring to. 'F1g.V 20,"mechanism is shown for driving said belts12y andc12 to cause themk to y deposit leaves on 'plates 13 and 1,3 and for reciprocating or shaking such plates-so as topxspreadv the leaves'thereon .and to scatter the same on belts 2, 2 from'the oblique edges ofV said plates.r Such mechanism comprises electric motor `17 mounted on small frame 4 with pinion18pkeyedto its shaft. `This pinion engagesfgear 19 which forms part of double gearing 19, 24, the latter beingv mounted free on shaft 20. vGrear 24 engages gear 25` keyed to shaft 26, which isiparallel to shaft 4.Ico

vvto keep the door normally in .a yieldinglyf les 20. `Twopairs of eccentrics 27 and 28`and .s gear 25 are keyedto shaft 26'; gear 25 engaging gear 24 which is keyed kto shaftQO. Shaft 20'also has keyed thereto worm 21 isc which engagesworm wheel 22, keyed on shaft 23, which is common to drums 11 and 11 carrying belts 12 and 12. Thus motor 17 drives belts 12`and 12 causing the same to carry leaves to plates 13 and 13 and also drives eccentrics 27 and 28 whichv vare connccted to plates 13 and 13 and import reciprocating movement thereto, by means of rods 29 and 30 which'are connected to the rings of such eccentrics and have their other ends hinged to brackets depending from the under surfaces of plates 13 and 13. The apparatus also includes means, hereinafter described, for regulating the distribution of leaves according to the needs of the silkworms and for suspending such distribution when necessary.

To insure a distribution of leaves proportional to the requirements of the silkworms and also to insure suspension of such distribution at times when it is not required, guide bar 33 is arranged. This bar supports roller 34 (Fig. 18) pivotally mounted on one end of bell crank which in turn pivotal ly mounted on a suitable bracket fitted on a lower ,cross bar of frame 3. The distance ofroller 34 from the floor and the position of bell crank 3,5 vary according to the height of the guide bar 33. In its various positions the bell crank 35 may control the closureof various contacts not shown) of va rheostat 36 and thus control the speed of an electric motor (not shown) `driving main frame 3.

In order to stop the lleaf distributing apparatus, pawls 37 project from the side of guide bar 33. A lever 38 is provided, formed with a cylindrical portion rotatable 1n an aperture in a cross-bar of the frame and having atits upper part afinger 45 and at its lower part a fork 46, between the arms of which a roller 47is rotatably mounted. On the same cross-bar of the frame is a` rotary electric switch 48 having a four-armedmember 44 secured thereto. As the frame moves in the directionof the arrow Q1, the roller 47 strikes against the projection`37 on the guide bar 33, thereby rotating the lever 38 about its axis in the direction .0f the arrow R1. This turning movementof the lever causes the finger 45 to strike againstthe arm P1 of the switch member 44 and turn the latter through an angle of 450, therebyalterf nately opening and closing the circuit of electric motor 17. Pawls 37 are so mounted that during the Areturn travel of frame 3, they Acannot act on levers '38,. and are also arranged to be movable along guide bar 33, so that the periods during which the leaf distribution is to be suspended :may be adjusted at will.

For the purpose of cleaning the tables P on which mulberry leaf beds from belts have fallen, the following apparatus (Fig. 17 is provided. Two rods 39, long enough to reach the outer side of tables P, project laterally from main frame 3 and are supported by small frame 4,. Beneath rods 39 are endless belts 40 also supported by small frame 4 and spaced therefrom. Belts 40 are so driven as to discharge matter falling upon them into the receptacle 41 arranged in the main `frame 3. As shown in Figs. 27 and 28, the stationary walls 42 and the AInovlable walls 43 from a vertical chamber through Whichthematerial falling from the belts' 4 asses to the receptacle 41, the endless belts leing vertically movable together with the frame 4, the walls 43 must follow. the frame 4 and be raised and lowered therewith, as such walls 43 are fastened at their upper end to a carrier 5,0 rigidly connected tothe carrier 49 of the belt 40. To enable the walls 43 to move vertically their lower ends `are wound on drums 51A rotatably mounted on stationary axles and equipped with springs, whereby as the frame 4 is lowered, the lower portions of the walls 43 wind themselves on the rollers v51 and conversely unwind as the frame rises. i j

In vthe operation of the novel breeding apparatus, silkworms reaching the discharge @11d 0f the .rSt belt, Crawl threugh hles F of sheet F, and reach the upper surface of such sheet which'maybe preliminarily covered' with cut mulberry leaves; table P collecting mulberry leaves falling yfrom the first belt 2. Table? is automatically and intel mittently cleaned by the device projecting from frame 3, as hereinabove described or by any other suitable means. And as here inabove described sheet F is reciprocated so that its forward edge encounters stop G, 1causing the silkworms to be inertially delposited uponthereceiving yend ofthe next The movement of all bridging sheets F, as well as the movement of all belts 2 is automatically performed by projections W carrying rollers Z on frame 3, which in the forward movement of such frame act upon arms H of levers I and upon levers S, hereinabove referred to with reference to Figs. 1 1 to `14, the projections referred to move the fingers V1 at the end of arms H' to the -dotted Vline positions V11, shown in Figure 1 3. i This movement of the arms H causes the ends T1 of levers I t0 ,more t9 T11 ,through the ar@- shaped trajectories shown in dotted lines. The sheets F, being supported by the arms I, move through similar paths so that the ends S1 of these Shet Shift to the position S11.

In this manner the sillrworms pass from n one endless belt 2 to another until they reach,

for instance, the 14th of such belts, from which they are ready to pass into the spinning huts L', lying thereabove,

During the growing period of the sill:- worms on belts v2, cut mulberry leaves are supplied for their nourishment, the distribufollowing manner Y tion being regulated so that it is suspended at periods when the wormsare asleep, the recurrence of such periods being readily calculated as a function ofthe room temperature and the speed ofbelts C.

Distribution of leaves, hereinabove referred to, is automatically performed in the Leaves are loaded onbelts 12 and 12 and retained thereon by side walls 55, by backing frame 3 until the end of belts 12, 12 strike against a door 31 in channel 30 (Figs. 21 and 22) through which it passes. Pneumatic means (not shown) for4 driving cut leaves through tube 32, cause leaves to be deposited on the end of belts 12, 12 which may be driven as soon asy they are completely loaded.

Loading of cut leaves having been completed, frame 3 is propelled by meansr of ank electric motor (not shown)v which, by any suitable transmission means, drives the .Wheels upon which such .frame is supported. AJ?

the same time motori? is started thereby ydriving* belts L12 fand- 12". ""`1Leaves on suchr belts advance inthe direction of arrows Y (Figs. 18 and. 21) and upon reaching the ends of such belts fall uponuplates'l, 13", which are reciprocated horizontally, thereby causing leaves to be scattered on'such plates and to be discharged from their oblique edges, thence falling upon worm conveying belts thereunder.

Since the main frame 3 is automatically causedto travel at'the proper speed, by means `-of the devicecomprising guide bar 33 and roller 38 above .referred to and which acts upon .the motor driving said frame, the leaves are distributedregularly'and in proper quantities on all .the worin, conveying belts. As above stated, pawls 37 and levers 38, cooperating with other mechanism, serve togfsuspend the distribution of leaves at lpoints where the silkworms are asleep.

As above stated, the movementof the fifteen worm conveying belts, the movement of the silkworms from one belt kto another, and the removal of the leaf beds, are automatically caused bythe travel ofthe leaf distributing apparatusv in cooperation therewith. More specifically these movements are caused as now described. Referring toy Fig. 11, W indicates a short rod projecting fromvmain france3, such rod havingroller Z pivotally mounted thereon. A plurality of such rods and rollers are arranged in arow on frame 3 at an' elevation proper to insure contact With the various levers which actuate the endless worm conveying belts and' bridging devices. Where several sets of worm conveying devices at different elevations are used, as

`shown in Fig. 17 an equal number of rows of rodsand rollers, of corresponding elevation kon frame 3, are employed. U v As frame .8 travelsv in the direction indivcated by the arrow in Fig. 18, ,the rollers Z strike against the arms H of levers I supporting the bridging sheet F, thus 4actuating the same and causing the lsilkworms to `be moved from one belt to a succeeding one. The

rollers Z then strike against the levers S, o i

mounted von axes K of'drums K which carry l the Worm conveying belts C. (See Figs. 11

and l12.) Lever S is rotated about Kin the direction of the arrow J and pawl R engages a tooth of ratchet wheel Q, thus'rotating drum `K on its longitudinal Vaxis K, with atranslation of movementto worm conveying belt C. When it becomes desirable t'o have the speed ofthe worm conveying belts gradually vincreased in order to give the worms the in- V creased'space made necessary by their growth, the mechanism can be readilyadjusted for such purpose.

With reference to Figs. 15 and 16, it will be understood that the rod and roller mechanism Z, W may be used when reciprocating orswinging shelves are used'instead of endless belts, to Contact with V'levers or crank 'arms (not shown) suitably mounted on U, 'thereby imparting the desired reciprocating movement to such shelves.

(atv

`Leaf beds falling on tablesP are removed'VVV worm conveying belts, electric motor 17'stops f and frame 3 is pushed back to the vstarting point. Small frame 4: isthen raised in the .manner ofv an ordinary lift to an elevation corresponding to thatof the next series of worm conveying belts. vThe process of loading and distributing leaves may then be repeated.

When thesilkworms reach the llast two of the worm conveying belts, they encounter spinninghuts L carried by endless belt L,

disposed above the worm conveyingv belts,

the lower portion of which moves inthe same direction and at the saine speedr Vas the worm conveying belts, so that the relative movementr of such beltsV is Zero; .The silkworms may then go into spinning huts L, of gorse or other suitable material, which not of sufficient length to injure the worms. The length of the apparatus L and its speed must be such as tovpermit the cocoons to be fullycompleted by the time its under surface reaches the drum toward which it travels. 'At such point rake Mgently detachee the cocoons which fall into hopper N, whereby they are conveyed to the drying room.

y 4` What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus'for handling silkworms com-y prising silkworm conveying means, mechanism for feeding mulberryleaves to said conveying means, and mechanically actuated means for the rec'eptioi'i of cochons moving adjacent to and with said conveying means.

2. Apparatus for handling silikivorin's comprising silkivorni conveying means, means for mechanically feeding eut mulberry leaves to said conveying means, mechanically actuated means forl the reception of eocoons moving adjacent to and with said conveying means, and means for removing cocoons therefrom. 4 K

3. Apparatus for handling silkworms comprisingV silkworm conveying means, means for mechanically feeding cut mulberry leaves to said conveying means, mechanically actuated means for the reception of cocoons moving adjacent to and with said conveying means, means for removing cocoons, and means for removing and collecting mulberry leaf beds.

4. Apparatus for handling silkvvorms comprising a plurality of silkworm conveying means arranged end to en d, means for transferring silkworms from onel of said conveying means to the next inthe series, mulberry leaf feeding means cooperating With said silkworm conveying means, and means for actuating said mulberry leaf feeding means and said Worm conveying means.

5. Apparatus for handling silkvvorms com.- prising a plurality of horizontally disposed endless conveyor belts for carrying silkworms, a plurality of bridging devices connecting such conveyor belts, a. device for feeding cut mulberry leaves to said conveyor belts and operable to actuate said conveyor belts and said bridgingy devices.

6. Apparatus for handling silkivorms comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed endless conveyor belts for carrying silk- Wor1ns,a plurality of bridging devices joining the ends of said conveyor belts, mechanism for distributing out mnlberry leaves on said conveyo r belts, means for actuating said conveyor belts and said bridging devices, a spinning hut device in which si k Worms may spin cocoons, and means 'for collecting cocoons therefrom.

7. Apparatus for handling silkivorms comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed endless conveyor belts for carrying silk- Worms, the first of such belts being provided with a plurality of series of step-like ridges, bridging devices joining the ends of said conveyor belts, and mechanism for distributing cnt mulberry leaves to said conveyor belts comprising means for holding a supply of leaves, a reciprocating plate for distributing leaves to said silkworm conveying belts,

means for carrying mulberry leaves fromk such supply of mulberry leaves to said reciprocating plate and means for operating such leaf carrying means and said reciprocating plate. Y.

8. Apparatus for handling si kWorms comprising a pluralityof horizontally disposed endless conveyor belts tor carrying silk- Worms, a plurality of bridging devices therebetween, mechanism for distrilniti'ng'cut mnlberry leaves `on said'conveyor belts, `means sociated with said conveyor belts for r'e'c -ving leaf beds discharged from such belts, and means for collecting the discharged leaf beds.

9. Apparatus fonhandling silkvvorms comprising a pluralityof horizontally disposed endless conveyor' belts for carrying silk- Worms, a pliiralityof drums on which such conveyor belts are mounted, ratchet means on the ends ,of said drums, a carriage for carrying mechanism 'for feeding cut mulberry'7 leaves to said conveyor belts, a track on Which said carriage travels, means projecting` from said carriage adapted to engage said ratchet means on `said drums to impart intermittent rotation thereto, and means for driving said carriage.

10. Apparatus for handling silkvvorms comprising a plnralitygof horizontally disposed endless` conveyor belts for carrying silkvvorms, a plurality of drums carrying such belts, av plurality of bridgino devices between suchV belts, comprising sieets of rigid material. pivotally mounted on the axes of such drums, a carriage carrying mechanism for distributing cut mulberry leaves on such belts, a track on which said carriage travels, means projecting from said carriage adapted to impart reciprocating movements to said bridging devices, and means for driving said carriage. n

1l. Apparatus for Y handling silkivorms comprising a plurality4 of horizontally disposed endless conveyor belts for transporting silkworms, means for transferring silkvvorms `from one of said conveying means to the next in the series, means for slowly moving said belts to transfer the silkworms from one end to the other' of'said lseries of belts, mechanism for distributing cut mulberry leaves on such belts, and means for automatically starting and stopping such leaf distributing mechanism atl predetermined intervals. Y

12. Apparatus for handling silkivorins comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed endless iconveyor belts for carrying silkivorms, mechanism for automatically distributing cut mulberry leaves on such con- Y veyor belts comprising a carriage, belt means thereon associated with Va mulberry leaf supply, .a reciprocating plate for distributing mulberry leavesl fed by said beltr means, means for driving said belt means and said reciprocating plate; a track on lWhich carriage travels,l a guide rail associated With said track, and meanson said carriage adapted to cooperate With said guide rail in stopping and starting said leaf distributing mechanism.

13. Apparatus for handling silkvvorms comprising a plurality of endless conveyors for transporting silkvvorms, said conveyors hengin alnelnent with the end ofv one con-` veyor spaced from the end of the adjacent conveyor, means for distributing mulberry leaves to said conveyors, and mechanically driven means for transferring slkworms from one conveyor to another Without transferring leaves thereto. n

Signed at Milan, Italy, this 28th day of May, 1926. Y

VITTORIO FIORUZZI. 

